FITZGERALD, Ga. – Going into Friday night’s Fitzgerald-Hapeville Charter showdown in the state Class AA semifinals, Fitzgerald High had many questions.

Hapeville Charter was not just a school the Purple Hurricane had never played, but a team that had existed only six seasons. Whatever jitters, whatever uncertainties that plagued them in preparation were cleared up quickly as Fitzgerald jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead (35-6 at halftime) and took a 42-21 victory.

The win places them in their second consecutive state championship game, which will be played next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome against Benedictine. Benedictine earned its way to the finale with a 49-10 win over Callaway Friday.

One of Fitzgerald’s questions coming in was how well its running game would do against the all-star lineup of the Hornets. As it turned out, very well, with the Hurricane hovering around 300 yards and scoring all six touchdowns on the ground.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Fitzgerald head coach Jason Strickland after the game of Hapeville’s rush defense.

Run game highlights came early and often.

Damien Devine took the opening kickoff to the Hornet 45. Aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty, it only took the Purple Hurricane four plays to reach the end zone. J.D. King’s 15-yard run at 10:23 and an extra point kick by Kolby Bell made for a 7-0 lead.

Two minutes and a partially blocked punt by Rawal Cheema later, Fitzgerald began its next drive at the visitors’ 46. James Graham burst for 18 yards to the 28 and the offense began grinding.

King, Graham and Ethan Gordon drove half the distance before Graham spotted Devine for an 11-yard gain to the 3. Gordon finished the drive with a three-yard run and Jan Luca Behnke split the uprights at 6:10 to go up 14 points. Behnke would make two extra point kicks with Bell providing the other four.

Fitzgerald scored touchdown No. 3 at 1:20 in the first period when Graham rumbled in from the 6.

Hapeville’s defense stiffened during the drive, with King having to convert a fourth down, though later its offsides flinch gave gave the hosts a fresh set of downs at the 6 on another conversion.

The Purple Hurricane extended the lead to 35-0 during the second period.

Graham ran for his second score at 7:12 by sneaking in from the 4. A King run for 18 yards not only gave them the 35-point margin but pushed Fitzgerald over 200 rush yards.

While the ground game was causing much destruction, the Purple Hurricane defense was giving their opponent fits.

Strickland said that unit had improved weekly.

Its efforts were so much that every snap for both teams in the first quarter was taken in Hapeville territory. Only on the final play of the opening frame did the Hornets make it to the Fitzgerald 47, a four-yard pass from quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams to Rory Starkey.

Marlon Jackson and Donterrious Milsap sacked Williams on consecutive plays in the first, which briefly gave the Hornets a minus-16 total in that department. Williams would not cross the 100-yard mark until the third period and the squad’s rushing total was well under 100 yards.

Down 35 points late in the first half, Williams and company finally caught a few breaks. He hit two straight passes for 55 yards and first-and-goal at the 6.

Two plays later, Williams ran in a touchdown from five yards out. Hapeville attempted a two-point conversion, but a pass went incomplete.

The Hurricane had only 46 seconds to work with after the touchdown, but nearly scored again. Behnke would miss a 46-yard field goal as time expired.

Consecutive sacks by Markeyln Lundy and Milsap and Jackson slowed Hapeville’s first second half drive with Willie Ross stopping it at the Fitzgerald 40 when he batted down a fourth down pass attempt.

Fitzgerald worked a slow scoring drive, with only three of 11 plays for more than 10 yards. A Graham-to-Devine connection went to the 1 where King was stopped short, but Graham converted with a three-yard scamper. The Hurricane took its largest lead at 42-6.

Williams helped Hapeville avoid a mercy rule by quickly taking his team down the field. Harper Atkins had the big blow with a 35-yard catch to the 14 and Starkey gained 10 more on the next play. With 59 seconds left in the period, Williams ran for the four-yard touchdown. Going the more traditional route, Alex Barnett booted the extra point.

The Fitzgerald starters stayed in for part of one more drive.

Williams ran for one last touchdown, two yards, with just seven seconds remaining. Scoring wrapped with a two-point conversion pass to Jermaine Burton.

Strickland allowed his seniors take the field for one final snap, a kneeldown by Graham.

“My favorite play of all-time,” Strickland said of the victory formation. He said he did not know what it would be like to not coach Fitzgerald’s senior class.

Constant pressure from the defensive front and outstanding secondary play limited Williams to 13 completions in 25 attempts. Seven came in the second half.

Strickland said the line play was an important one. “We felt like that would be a big key,” he said. Williams was felled by sacks five times. Strickland credited assistant Neal Burkhart with his work with the defense.

“Those guys have played their rear ends off,” he said.

After finding major success through the air against Rabun County a week ago, Graham attempted but 14 passes, completing six for an unofficial 75 yards. Strickland said Graham had been able to adjust quickly as needed.

King for two touchdowns on 23 rushes for 160 yards. Graham had three on 52 yards. Gordon, who scored the other touchdown, had 58 on eight tries.